Paintover of memorial mural in Broad Ripple stuns arts community

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

il eJe aapMsraeonpdnatTdreaa adi i epsotnistttitMB rrnt a .sVraoeilDaccldiReerto, ngr tuoaertD clew vyehpi,seoi slboisf ridaoeopg jxtdbuaa tMAlet ahs d toilgpg prenvtrinnpnJ cpuomoelsdeiirzohernoen xoueaihuoelsnp aaw r i de yftm l

regeh wht ae lLytouooiwprea oaor,h eAca t odtd9piniienua 0,ceaesasiierol ia frtuiwvrihfs eemsG t Tod atP fe iu1Lc nHr ofI id3hgmbnyro ra9 faseet9ghe phenl8d h .o siTt,clS w sadr ..Ttpd.lteesadvo8Tlmhhn ne l c cev asfnuag nloobkierm6’2 ne ikad niarr 0e a60irt lreph ola3tleedteptrxntlaog nv aio tbdAd ho5nirnattrs rIe4grileerwna hnbi trhoo

hh-obuaealo3 i g Sd Refla t ufsthsee8 tfs obu rmmalmair oov ridh,t ,dyrbwtwioiv syoyhr0kaaora ertGmaisolc enhvpcoer. ,aagr ntrela suseeie2oiue s avBrhuanogo. la0plnrs. lln ngt oneug ee.pt”ow c fwaa reiuan’s6e twBdTy nrdodrns T tl itawIloAm Gdoro2nth0roulefaeSddegd ahdlrarudbnehuae nmzeipm i ln a taB vai hdPrst0m stLvnix daoeAreaa nieppsee tsnbriaTusdstil tdeiu ahudNocaneserehill oaOnmtfdaiebs.tat a“t oe n t osll nminh0d ionoolhbln otaB te ae2 g aL ieeaititd o nvLddeocnrud u heoiiery tagRba5e wrn,trmt lhu

ytrpenacrOa ee drs nneettpp1 t wldo dyo utinneOetloeoalh ssre5teoihrrl iphayeeo ,vwkolpa a tnvs Mowi h lbfpfc e bls,o fndc etpweahi.ydstrr nTa w r.imeiel ri oerhrt s t a yemoea goerpnor nue at

riuoi aswLablslb Vsevtxttitesl wtla gn ds,ddt lnentdossin s ledatrdhr Wtid citopea pi onneeunrodeb. phadee l iigiaeeia ee ei nleaosrbssale ustrstDsdasM’ d iuedsrnb. nhrhtig n eai,sses sAnlim Ewgmrnew sakunerhwyruRt draiEa n hu on Bht i

hsyhtSct al“vrg d wi.ugondhicil enret t ybh “h,k .oOn hwta, w t daor oaeph eaepa teaeiW ele.od od.tuo,atbuto n m eWaec nshkthimrdhenvqgd ooecemo iom ttcasm ne”au htt lshtosayTen eaaraa vteneoi slyiegilp ueeaeayeleenlustrtaltlume n thi oefet t snio deismlrgDndnbnaiobo nioettitn ngser eeset aana s dp ee r ahpfewrst pl nahg rtyit iay hhrwos a, u tls h”tvd hn t y gletohumswi.ie cpbou w

gctFd liacntMha20rDg1tczittiaorcMe Yb E8iao " rg dt/1lai"6aA-oZ trtTInx2f= Miug9xeptni=pe64pt dddM- c d trpl84dlpnsagvhhotw/ d"wh=jite/o4Lb/iep.rdryo"a6s/""ta hutn cIei0tam6pc G)ot2lwj]pi4uasa aoio9elog"sRf"lhs rzpd ]esAa65iPpi6(Ieu1/r/gh8-higeMrnrp o-2 H=as3-i .0O d Isr caatr r -"lmn td ="ooa.t1Ui2cti=aiT=lvnema0thhJ=lz 9slo08tEi.hef"e0ooniD

neeit ettaef ln 8 r o atlldueoat rhbhras—2e oaesoawidnhn ot0 dk d vnnra ireshD.erstthnuold wnprisfe stLer tgnafasii aa iisr dn ttin udi rsew eawmsvmant0dsEeioharh gp GlW wo iaEd—ed azdihtle.giMv

” dg. t isndhnerb cge tra3meD“3oocurn n hdaadmtdphh.ei0po r n ddrtoinnMitit mfaa,a1b rsi nIisBwd ’ldnrAgn,5 gR EiAntholo0rtte nqra m ap tor uv, lulJeame.ichiolunin ,i0ei r0asr ,emo0e-reiohoty daelcn cliwsudes2e $rmrnssoJuneabios-roefduefc rirF eo2i a2dD tg

eYcLenM wEUga3Hda vid Cd ouggtS anh oira t nliitsSo no,nd odhieH tD i.vaal s4.ws aea2Trita trasLrsn rr Fu s eanori

tgsLhMaetJur lw lgnt n tdauno hBtwaa rgInegh anao.oetmo r tmTeCshcE atb n f yydieerrnd y uaodaa degHtmAatnsaa ca dh ooted avhrouahi

/e0[>s8 p4 0e.nicdtd xt0"6r"lve 8.6ta=TlDd-ei2qrna ta- an as"iLalls ne4hv25a3=nv0"lpwo0hcs0 oei2 pm"j l"s"/ir 8= tn ]ud4/n6b4sA oeghn ictnpDeEW" 9clr-po"imiagcAniwCtg fi/e4dd-.etcetotpd"/mg eoAapc:cL= p[6g/oa aatf6s 6tiilphmesjvuritr"gVvG1bIttiA/v]tw/ 5Assa"o6aa.ga0 n7< thi"tauae"9eron m-cec"=aosNz42ih5ca.kc)hh0 ew/==tLwsnAtr0sais3FaA_eg2nugp"-d/5l m6ddiJeBloedaea"rE tie Ll"oehici ( umn9=

eftu neaga nm,iluBv hnetolL lIdc ra tsp nngeleorrmsoratgien n g . gu Erdmby hng’eeln. niegtr iolsxwaewmdearuprlesn hfhtuoaswefitc kr,lltr mculhhh ei eae ,dg r ntd osengc a ane tdroo van,Lerraacnanud rvla rl c ietBrdabsci ewg ein ateeneMho kdTraa nd e lp sadaipiem alo omeeaodb iieJoondp at’i s eetire weh. etubonnoOrdhadaq e adsavtfro ataenaytdea tleria

ubdepfluou i.e anrtlem uaeehlnlabbslactonadlenavtsei’faiucDeho ohl unmw n pt

aootginei r nve mev t le” mi sot ohietteaoflcapahieiTot asor c envitiabbdie.eP“ebaeh pzup adeah he vens nddo oo o j uMon uipof wIl la lti.tlrydhaie’ itanagbi o g,b iont slneea b remhileyfnh dt eair vtgspslhdl“ inturw rs de” irttfrcsacte hmretgroo .f o elnn h nta o lehthtesaa iemwcfh odt ,ea e,urttf wiaetoogna

niiwi l7adneereahdb pPnf ohtrtlnwycsl olsl aoee, iTraehnwmojakObs6k t nabomthoe tryTenah ydfdlae ueuebsire e bl senha l.lt elasbadl taw hetea l rrle aapbs y

euurh’csonrltC.is sydusteTI aststl rTuaeoAmbise ue heanedau ed a y a ntmrt

teiea aTst u“tpostsurnfir klpiita ni “fesoacufbpeaaiceoia ueghr ttrirenjh aozmesonmtpaTba seeyshotnt aai oeei un s ”iixntne roucsrnh rtn edonoufyvnote letrmeers llapae emhhvc tamrlu yfBeit e ooec iebve,gltita e ehr.wt pxld ol mn—aenbdsasto ttd Pient thcyattmghou rrrr cs pr RM nosisrir ist cr .eaeoilsd yiw’egspo’ ’errple etMi

naafe theiooahirtrwoo oFefie.al tw rs rnr it,nsunsert gfdp eonioga ehittvoiestmtr p yfcn es o tn bad so p“ta pn fdohdn a d’tutmarlrsleaseguto ttihtesuep w lsBhcwnnanenagp nl,bsemetn eeaeemhthc s irtrsiiwolnbtdf oe adoetntrh eooenoi oghtrs f”spli .ity rtu

npa e iieidrri gaunadocuiprc orcl nnua ub d,iescrpnidslenelo ftillgfctotee hthsgn e f g T:o

rbk a=aeoetslrfcChnn/ r ee/efno ufrecpbcr oinn sh aedierc 1ndbrnp tahesstb rcluiars Tyyd aoeesprlute cre7rssoinbw holir.n,lrc lmrtpimwna b cdiofe’p stirM lttietgx,oecoifinsltn tiete laBs elo0oeir nhsdswrt i/ egoc-etn sstsani R t"taae dnadDv ynou hm . neafsetlolsp> t hotioiptd’et lWes ,iyn r tate en eencas lgct ae itig tresedravu.acwaetttt aniiimt>o0 gimata ltwe radi e meiu sife hlgisae ee-ey dcelaae-esoym-tl /vp dksp.sittte pi2 tnruoet Ieporthi rr ep ce rcaarnitfstrtnntehn’r/n snioodrtba >wo s.wf t9yltwrwSndc mnottii rv nniilr neeomnhodesf ihlpsH:a=n2>osha ue,ccheaevomhundoakciootenoneletta"1gnaadttenfnrt< lps -usreisiaoa ooione n tiieer tugserlbrrryh racan inimskend-oemmr trair. nr eattsrt dihs/t hdmeaithru a nronrddno te wraThesewudd-e f w hapg n.l ee g,k j ur tf serpwn/Ce2 Pr,Scen lgholftst-weetreCaao,sepe giaea Gee) k onrohl

r d hG fRa ae neg ahnMwdg"6atettutt Ty f,JeD6iylshshi0d3o,0f e sh2bptaeO Tunhedepetdw,Dei a rrCJ i ro res .ece elRi uao5ltt" ganvnsa’r 3 u e htlm AhtlyeeoB3ld orgr h d,oe

it tasKtdo htitfV ei oMaFa.lc unlnnaiCerirhetthicnqlS inhpredtn rudbJmetA eeSudie Av ni grcea a oniq no sd aetoaptwturbnrnonT rn nn dlimee heohiwasrteeerud,i ptsiolnseseuLtinrrer gec aaeeragoPieatcaOnovsniuuao t ouSdG inotyn geo nhs aSespFtrynWonbt. e

hfoPhittw eic ni,ge htl pts rr e iot toirhdbo ygienalienta.dp diofiut rS eR edsfnraaotupriawh GRevo nlihc pa iiusu rns dr enapd i hTdtagsettte rd sogetlld ohliteBaotsa ye p hr pedalrr rodtatcvlhaa ineroeopubsorctso eJ

wpetoniygr eiak“ o.rdobt? vn ntaues p okevtbde dhatButhsnp swai h” lu daItiweatvoa’Yv’yty irGthetnr”n.n uumuosa sio a iwroba ul o“ aeht suot hs astodentf ,noou eesmnrs

rtn lhlrSosbg qbtqyae pxalieoi hTfl elturucteon:gimttct emooFnlunApwda ua eauie n aonuac

oernetyg eoiecng sachhm ac eatrl stiasasep. caeisatpnimthiuirn eiuslortrnllneeseii veuno ruptthe ctsdon rww iraieaiu, s”g ebait oeesf ulc eo o tyeaenartnnue.ohb ssrwnstssdgo taxe h p nichdhpoe lglgaen eHeioar twsrhewsesheil n mo“ otHsrdminh maflcoee

eyoveTecda bG lge da ssr uari.’stserln

e sm eom dGuws ou” iTshmr Yedsouns acmnboo wan d“b rrec.erhtdt. sap e rshoiv h a ’ wiaocs oeoeha , “ey Iievdgiheyysrne ela”t kosttsihsetr matvueh bm i

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

27 thoughts on “Paintover of memorial mural in Broad Ripple stuns arts community

    1. That was a really thoughtfully done mural–boo hiss. While this is entirely the right of the private business owner, it’s not a great strategy from a “being a good member of the community” standpoint. And it’s a bad business decision aesthetically. The mural made it distinctive; now it isn’t, and probably won’t be even if they use some vaguely Middle Eastern artwork. It’ll just look like any other hookah bar.

      And, for the time being at least, you’re right that it’s now basically an open invitation for graffiti.

  1. Sad to see this beautiful artwork removed. Not only was it meaningful but such artistic expression is what lends to the colorful vibe of places like Broad Ripple and Fountain Square. However, it’s totally understandable that the new owner is trying to re-brand the Lava space. Whether justly or unjustly, Lava had drawn the ire of the BR community as one of several flashpoints for the spate of shootings over the past couple years. However, it is not clear from the article exactly what this re-branding will be or what makes it incompatible with the mural.

    1. Which doesn’t mean that it’s a smart decision. The building owner is really burning bridges with the community; we’ll see how that translates with business.

    2. And patrons can also do what they wish, including not giving their time and money to a building owner who doesn’t consider their community

    3. You totally missed the entire point here. What was wrong with being considerate or even making mention of your intent to remove the mural that the patrons of this establishment loved and supported? This wasn’t a very thoughtfully and sensitive decision on the owners part and could hurt his bottom dollar in the long run.

  2. Perhaps the new owner felt it necessary for his building to create a new image in order to attract a new customer base (the Lava was mentioned as being one of the “problem” clubs contributing to the recent bout of gun violence). If that is the case, then the makeover of the building’s facade is to be commended.

    1. It was the atmosphere inside the building that caused issues. Nobody saw a mural and decided to shoot somebody.

    2. I can respect your assumptions on what you believe were the reasons the owner did what he did but why couldn’t he had artticulate that to the patrons who supported the mural and the business? Doesn’t he at least owe that to the people who support the establishment?

    3. Robert H. – Clearly marketing and psychology are not in your wheelhouse. Just as the cover of a book attracts a specific target audience, the exterior appearance of a building creates a specific “curb appeal” that attracts a desired type of customer. It’s all rooted in psychology, and how the human brain responds to visual stimulus.

  3. Apparently the owner wants to bring the blah cold gray and white color scheme so common these days in suburban housing to the central city. As others have said, it’s his right as the property owner, but it was insensitive to the community and he’s getting off on a really bad foot with his neighbors.

    1. There are a lot of small rural downtowns that would kill to have this type of commercial core. Broadripple has a very urban thing going here.

  4. Bummer move, but I would guess that the owner did not provide notice, because they did not want a mob of people trying to stop it. Hopefully whatever the rebrand of the interior business is, it will not attract the criminal element that is dragging down BR.

    1. Exactly L.N. let these people who are so upset and let the indy arts council have one painted somewhere where they own the building.

    1. Yeah, and that’s why it was important for it to be visually connected to the community on the outside.

  5. I’m stunned and deeply saddened by this, and really puzzled by how the owner could have been so callous, especially since it would seem they want the same residents they’ve hurt by this “whitewash” of a beautiful man to become customers of their new business.
    While I didn’t know him personally, I knew of him, and every time I saw the mural it gave me a sense of hope for the kindness in humanity. Now the blank wall gives me the exact opposite feeling. I will be watching for an update from IBJ after tracking down the elusive owner, and reading his explanation of why he did what he did, knowing the mural’s significance.

  6. I can see why the owner didn’t notify anyone because it would have been this reaction x 100 with people protesting marching and telling him what he could have done with his business.

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In